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Two hidden voids have been discovered within one of the pyramids of Giza, in Egypt—potentially shining light on an enduring mystery about the existence of a lost entrance to the giant tomb. The newly-detected features of the Pyramid of Menkaure—the smallest of the three main pyramids in the Giza necropolis—were revealed in scans made by researchers from Egypt's Cairo University and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany. Standing at nearly 200 feet tall, the pyramid is believed to have been completed around 2510 BC, during the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, to serve (as the name might suggest) as the tomb of King Menkaure. Archaeologists have long been puzzled by an abnormal feature on the Pyramid of Menkaure's eastern facade—a section of granite blocks, some 13 feet tall and nearly 20 feet wide, that have been polished smooth. These polished stones are only found elswhere on the northern side of the pyramid, at its entrance, leading researcher Stijn van den Hoven to propose back in 2019 that the eastern feature might reflect a second, hidden entrance. In their study, part of the aptly-named ScanPyramids project, the researchers applied a number of non-destructive imaging methods—including georadar, ultrasound and electrical resistance tomography—to scan beneath the surface of the iconic monument. The researchers report the detection of two air-filled cavities, which lie at depths of 4.6 and 3.7 feet behind the pyramid's outer facade; one of the cavities measures about 3.2 feet high and 4.9 feet wide, while the other one is smaller at just under 3 feet tall and 2.3 feet across. The discovery is not the first time that the ScanPyramids project has identified unknown chambers within one of the pyramids. "After the significant discovery of an unknown chamber in the Pyramid of Khufu in 2023, ScanPyramids has once again succeeded in making an important discovery in Giza," said Christian Große, a professor of Non-Destructive Testing at TUM. “The test methodology developed by us allows very precise conclusions to be drawn about the condition of the interior of the pyramid without damaging the valuable structure. “The hypothesis of a further input is very plausible and our discoveries bring us a big step closer to confirming it.” Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the pyramid of Menkaure? Let us know via science@newsweek.com. Reference
